Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-11
First Jenny Lind Ticket.

G5o oOAlJ hIAA A1OhOUs
In the Cosmopolitan Mogazine, P. T.
Barnum thus tells of the man who
bought the first Jenny Lind ticket in
this country:
1 knew that the fabulous sum Of money
that was to pay for her dulcet notes
would of itself be "big advertisement"
that people would begin to wonder what
the price of tickets would have to be in
order even to reimburse me; that many
would fear they would not be able to
pay the price charged, etc.
This was exactly the state Of public
feeling a week before her arrival, when
/ announced that, in order to give all
DESTROYS to hear Jenny Lind an equal
chance, the tickets would be sold at
public auction, starting at the nominal
price of three dollars per ticket. 1t was
acknowledged that this plan was fair,
but the wonder grew as to how many
times the nominal price" the choice
seats would bring in this public compe-
tition. All over the United States, and
indeed Europe, the excited people were
waiting for the news on this point, which
would reach them as soon as possible
after the sale.
For ten days preceding the auction
the newspapers we're full of predictions
regarding the price Of the tickets. Every
body wanted to attend the first CONCERT,
and orders from all parts of the country
were sent to friends in New York to Sc
cure tickets, if they could be bought at
prices that were hot utterly fabulous.
It is every mans business to exercise
the greatest possible foresight, whereby
his calling can in an honest way be
made profitable. clearly saw what eff
feet this auction sale of Jenny Lind
tickets would necessarily have in the ex-
listing excited state of the public mind;
and that the higher the prices obtained,
the more would the frenzy be increased
Therefore, three days before the auction
of concert tickets was to come off, [ went
quietly to John n Genin, q popular
hat-maker, and told him I had secret
business suggestion to imDart, which if
shrewdly managed, would, as I believ-
ed, help him thousands of dollars as an
advertisement.
"What is itl" eagerly asked Mr.. Gen.
in.
"Bid off the first Jenny Lind ticket"
replied; "and the higher the price
paid tho greater renown will it give you
all over the country within twenty-four
hours after its purchase"
Genin, who was good advertiser, in
stantly saw his opportunity; and seiz-
ing my hand with an air of delight he
eagerly exclaimed: "Barnum, yon have
made my fortune. I will buy the first
Jenny Lind ticket, but will not men
ton it even to my wife till have So
cured it"
On reflection I feared that this brilli-
ant idea might not strike anybody else,
and consequently the bidding would not
run very high; but as l knew that any
business man who bought the first tick
ct wonld be q great gamer thereby,
/ quietly called on DR.. Brandreth, the
great pill-maker and a tremendous ad-
vertiser. I asked for private inter-
view. The doctor invited me into his
Office, and locking the door, pointed to
an easy-arm-chair, and then said in
low voice:
"Friend Barnum, what is up"
ga mighty big thing for YOU" I re-
piled, ''if you will keep it profound
secret for three days"
The doctors eyes sparkled with de-
light as he squeezed my hand, and said:
"My dear Barnum, I pledge my honor
not to divulge it to a living being till
you say the word"
"Buy the first Jenny Lind ticket at
auction, even if you pay high for it," I
replied, "and let every newspaper in
America and Europe announce that Dr.
Brandreth, Jr., the maker of the cele-
brated 'Brandreth's Pills. secured the
first Jenny Lind ticket at fifty or
hundred dollars, as the case may be-"
The doctor smiled and replied: "Pret-
ty good, Barnum, especially for you, if
you can sell ticket at that rate"
was surprised ct the calmness Of
this remark, and said: "Yes, doctor,
it may be good for me, but that doesn't
prevent its being successful stroke of
policy for you. !"
The doctor gave me o sly wink, and
merely remarked: "Barnum, we all
know you have fertile brain and don't
miss any chances to feather your nest.
Your foresight is remarkable, and gen
orally quite profitable"
Nettled at the doctors temporary
obtuseness, replied:
CDR. Brandreth, 1 have long admired
your ingenious methods of advertising
'Brandreths Pills. but if you can't see
the value to your business of my sug-
gestion, l beg to say you will surely 10
gret it when that first Jenny Lind ticket
falls into other hands,"
The doctor was SO strongly impressed
that my idea was a purely selfish one
that several minutes elapsed before he
began to see that, Notwithstanding I
should be benefited by the proposed
plan, it would not prevent him from
reaping harvest at the same time. He
then said: 81 thank you for the hint,
Mr.. Barnum. Perhaps twenty or thirty
dollars expended for the first ticket
would not be bad investment; so l will
send my cashier to the auction with in
structions to make liberal bid"
Bidding the doctor goodbye, I
walked down Broadway, feeling chat my
plan had put two worthy and ambitious
gentlemen into frame of mind that